Elik-Sai ski resort

Elik-Sai is the powder heaven you have been dreaming about. Close to Almaty, this ski shack has 4 T-bar ski lifts made in Kyrgyzstan, but without too many manicured slopes. No crowds, some basic prepared runs for beginners, and going up, 45-degree tree runs, pillow lines, lots of untouched pow and a direct link to the backcountry peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau for splitboarders and ski hikers. As a freerider, you will find kindred spirits gathered here.

To make arrangements and find out if the lifts are working, try the following telephone numbers.

Pavel: +7 777 586 45 58

Anatoly: +7 705 226 09 81

Dmitry: + 7 777 353 43 55

Ivan (ski instructor): +7 777 177 19 69, +7 707 177 19 69

4 T-bar lifts run along several slopes.

A 350 m training slope

A gentle 450m descent for beginners.

A narrow, unprepared, dark red 600m unprepared slope

350m and 500m real black stuff at 45 degree angle

And there is more! You can stay overnight for 2500 tenge per person. The shack has a stove, running water, a fully-equipped banya and an outside toilet. There is a kitchen and dining area with pots and pans and a gas-stove.

Price for the cable car is 2500 tenge for a day of skiing from 10 to 17:00. Ski rental: approximately 2500 tenge.

Adored by the kindergarten crowd, a snowtubing trail runs all weekends and holidays. Even night skiing is possible on appointment. You can learn how to ski here as well, but I would suggest other places for that. Elik-Sai is for enthusiasts. More pictures can be found here.

Getting there

Elik-Sai lies hidden behind the Almatau (now Pioneer) ski base. Have a look on our map for a general idea of where it is (about 40 minutes out of Almaty), then check the aforementioned photoreportage for a detailed map. Take the red road to go up, the blue road to go down. The last bit is 4WD only, and keep a snow shovel in the back. If you do not have a 4WD, park your car on the basketball court of Almatau and do the last 400m on foot.

If you do not have a car, taxi drivers will usually only go as far as Besqaynar village, so the last bit to Almatau needs to be negotiated separately.